Locals prepare for Super Bowl

Published: Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 9:33 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 9:33 p.m.

The biggest football game of the season is two days away, and those not celebrating in the Superdome will likely celebrate elsewhere.

According to Hallmark Cards, Super Bowl represents the No. 1 at-home party event of the year, beating all the chaos of New Year’s Eve celebrations It is also the second greatest day for food consumption after Thanksgiving.

The week before the game, shoppers could carry the national economy, spending no less than $55 million on food and an estimated 10 million man-hours preparing for the party, experts say.

“Between Super Bowl and Mardi Gras, it’s going to be a big holiday this year,” said Vince Cannata, president of Cannata’s Family Market in Houma. “With parades kicking off this weekend and the big game on Sunday, we are all geared up for a very busy weekend.”

Cannata said the stores are already seeing big sales of the traditional game appetizers such as chicken wings, pizza, potato skins, chips and different dipping sauces, special seasoned meats, cheese ball trays and fried drum trays.

“It’s sort of like tailgating that has become a national pastime. Everyone wants food that is simple. They are looking for more snack-as you-go foods that will last all day,” Cannata said.

Apparently you can’t have a Super Bowl party without chicken wings, according to the National Chicken Council.

Americans will eat 1.23 billion wings this weekend, according to the council’s 2013 Wing Report.

Laura Mollere, general manager of Buffalo Wild Wings on Martin Luther King Boulevard in Houma, said she expects the restaurant to be packed Sunday.

On a normal business day, the restaurant serves 15 to 20 cases of wings, but Mollere said 40 cases are expected to be served Sunday.

“That’s 1,600 pounds of wings, and if you ask me, that is a whole lot of chicken,” she said.

Customers have begun to order trays for the game, and Mollere said she expects to see an increase in to-go orders the closer it gets to game day.

Domino’s on Park Avenue in Thibodaux is usually 30 percent busier on Super Bowl day versus any other day, manager Marneshia Bryant said.

“Super Bowl is our busiest day of the year. Our drivers take about five extra deliveries apiece,” Bryant said.

During a regular week, the pizza branch averages 75 deliveries and on weekends 150 deliveries, working 12 drivers.

“On Super Bowl day, our entire staff will be working, and we will have 17 drivers delivering,” she said.

Bryant said her store started to receive early orders through the company’s time order option. Customers can order up to two months in advance.

According to some people, no Super Bowl party is complete without dessert and alcohol.

Cannata said because Super Bowl overlaps with Mardi Gras, king cakes are flying off the shelves.

“It’s one thing normally at Mardi Gras to send king cakes across the country, but it’s quite another thing to send them for Super Bowl parties out of state,” he said. “All those folks gathering can all taste it that normally wouldn’t have, and the host can tell the tradition to them. It just brings a little bit of Louisiana’s roots to other places.”

Cannata said he has also noticed a large increase in beer sales.

“I guess they need something to wash down the king cake with. It’ll also help them get over a loss or celebrate a win,” he said, laughing.

What do locals responding on Facebook recommend for a good party?

“Beer, snacks, barbecue or crawfish and plenty of friends make a Super Bowl party. You have to have some good pre-party music. No country, rap or French music,” Joe Chaisson said.

Myles Barr of Houma added: “A TV in the bathroom, and no, I am not kidding.”

<p>The biggest football game of the season is two days away, and those not celebrating in the Superdome will likely celebrate elsewhere.</p><p>According to Hallmark Cards, Super Bowl represents the No. 1 at-home party event of the year, beating all the chaos of New Year's Eve celebrations It is also the second greatest day for food consumption after Thanksgiving. </p><p>The week before the game, shoppers could carry the national economy, spending no less than $55 million on food and an estimated 10 million man-hours preparing for the party, experts say.</p><p>“Between Super Bowl and Mardi Gras, it's going to be a big holiday this year,” said Vince Cannata, president of Cannata's Family Market in Houma. “With parades kicking off this weekend and the big game on Sunday, we are all geared up for a very busy weekend.”</p><p>Cannata said the stores are already seeing big sales of the traditional game appetizers such as chicken wings, pizza, potato skins, chips and different dipping sauces, special seasoned meats, cheese ball trays and fried drum trays.</p><p>“It's sort of like tailgating that has become a national pastime. Everyone wants food that is simple. They are looking for more snack-as you-go foods that will last all day,” Cannata said.</p><p>Apparently you can't have a Super Bowl party without chicken wings, according to the National Chicken Council.</p><p>Americans will eat 1.23 billion wings this weekend, according to the council's 2013 Wing Report. </p><p>Laura Mollere, general manager of Buffalo Wild Wings on Martin Luther King Boulevard in Houma, said she expects the restaurant to be packed Sunday.</p><p>On a normal business day, the restaurant serves 15 to 20 cases of wings, but Mollere said 40 cases are expected to be served Sunday.</p><p>“That's 1,600 pounds of wings, and if you ask me, that is a whole lot of chicken,” she said.</p><p>Customers have begun to order trays for the game, and Mollere said she expects to see an increase in to-go orders the closer it gets to game day.</p><p>Domino's on Park Avenue in Thibodaux is usually 30 percent busier on Super Bowl day versus any other day, manager Marneshia Bryant said.</p><p>“Super Bowl is our busiest day of the year. Our drivers take about five extra deliveries apiece,” Bryant said.</p><p>During a regular week, the pizza branch averages 75 deliveries and on weekends 150 deliveries, working 12 drivers.</p><p>“On Super Bowl day, our entire staff will be working, and we will have 17 drivers delivering,” she said.</p><p>Bryant said her store started to receive early orders through the company's time order option. Customers can order up to two months in advance.</p><p>According to some people, no Super Bowl party is complete without dessert and alcohol.</p><p>Cannata said because Super Bowl overlaps with Mardi Gras, king cakes are flying off the shelves.</p><p>“It's one thing normally at Mardi Gras to send king cakes across the country, but it's quite another thing to send them for Super Bowl parties out of state,” he said. “All those folks gathering can all taste it that normally wouldn't have, and the host can tell the tradition to them. It just brings a little bit of Louisiana's roots to other places.”</p><p>Cannata said he has also noticed a large increase in beer sales.</p><p>“I guess they need something to wash down the king cake with. It'll also help them get over a loss or celebrate a win,” he said, laughing.</p><p>What do locals responding on Facebook recommend for a good party?</p><p>“Beer, snacks, barbecue or crawfish and plenty of friends make a Super Bowl party. You have to have some good pre-party music. No country, rap or French music,” Joe Chaisson said. </p><p>Myles Barr of Houma added: “A TV in the bathroom, and no, I am not kidding.”</p><p>“Pizza, chicken wings, chips and dip, beer, soft drinks and maybe some... SHOTS,” Joey Benoit of Houma said. </p><p>Staff Writer Sable LeFrere can be reached at 985-857-2204 or at sable.lefrere@houmatoday.com.</p>